Street-sweeping broom and scoop.



C. H. BANCROFT.

STREET SWEEPING BROOM AND SCOOP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-22,1915.

1 1 89,1 88. Patented June 27, 1916.

a) flaw??? uni/1 CHARLES H. BANCROFT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STREET-SWEEPING BROOM AND SCOOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed October 22, 1915. semi No. 57,356.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BAN- cnorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of forcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Street-Sweeping Broom and Scoop, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a broom for street sweeping purposes having a scoop connected therewith and the principal object of the invention is to provide a construction of sufficient lightness for use in this manner in which the brush and scoop are so combined that the operator will not have to handle two separate tools going from one to the other according to the work he has to perform. In this way a material saving of time is secured.

The invention also involves additional features comprising means whereby when the broom is being used in the ordinary way the scoop is so located on it that it serves as a dust guard to'check, in a certain manner, the raising of clouds of dust in front of the broom, also the provision of means whereby when the brush is turned over the scoop will come at the bottom substantially in the position in which it is to be used and this is combined with means whereby the scoop is locked in that position relatively to the handle.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a simple mechanism for unlocking it, both the locking and unlocking devices being also capable of being operated by the foot without stooping.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention in position for sweeping; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4: is a side elevation showing the parts in the position for scooping up the dust and dirt.

The invention is shown as applied to a brush 10 of well known construction suitable for use in cleaning streets. It has the usual back 11 and a handle 12 fixed relatively to the back at an inclination. Fixed to the back are hinges 13, one leaf of each hinge being secured to the end of a sheet metal scoop 14. In this Way the scoop is pivoted to the back along a line adjacent to its front or upper edge. On the back wall of the scoop is fixed an arm 15 having a projection 16. By means of this projection, which is in a suitable position to be operated by the foot of the-operator, the scoop can be turned about its pivots so as to swing toward and from the brush at the bottom.

Secured to the back and handle is a stationary metal member 17 and a spring 18 connects this with the arm 15. This spring obviously, in the position shown in Fig. 1, holds the arm 15 back and keeps the scoop yieldingly held outward from the brush. In order to move the scoop nearer the brush the arm 15 has to be moved forwardly in opposition to this spring.

Pivotally connected with the arm 15 is a lever 20 which is held down at the end by a spring 21 and which passes through a slot 22 in the stationary member 17. This lever is provided with an end 23 for manipulation by the foot and with a notch 24.

In the position shown in Fig. 1 the parts 20 and'2l are out of operation and have no effect, the spring 21 merely acting to hold the lever 20 in the position shown in this figure. The spring 18 however, as stated, holds the scoop out at the bottom so that it serves as a sort of guard for the brush arresting the rise of dust at the front of it and yet this guard is held yieldingly so that if the operator pushes up against the curbing, for example, it will yield readily toward the brush. Now when a pile of dirt has been gathered and it is desired to scoop it up the operator simply turns the device over nearly into the position shown in Fig. 4 when the edge of the scoop rests on the ground. He can then push down on the handle using the edge of the scoop as a fulcrum. This brings the brush down over the top of the scoop and also forces the lever 20 back and down until the notch 24 slips over the edge of the slot 22 which looks the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Another way of accomplishing the same result after the brush is turned over is to press down with his foot on the end 16 of the arm 15. When the parts are in this position the operator can scoop up the dirt and carry it to the desired point. When it is desired to unlock the parts and reverse the brush the operator simply presses forward on the end 23 of the lever 20 Which releases the lever and then allows the spring 18 to pull the brush up. This leaves the parts in suitable position so that they can be reversed to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Although I have illustrated .and described only a single embodiment of the invention, I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but

What I do claim is 1. An attachment for a brush having a back, comprising a scoop adapted to be pivoted to said back, and yielding means for holding the front edge of the scoop .away from the brush, whereby the scoop constitutes a dust guard and yielding buffer.

2. An attachment for a brush, comprising a scoop normally extending down from the top of the brush at an inclination at the front side.

3. An attachment for a brush having a back, comprising a scoop adapted to be pivoted to said back, yielding means for holding the front edge of the scoop away from the brush, and an arm projecting back from the base of the scoop by which it can .be tilted about its pivots.

l. An attachment for a brush, comprising a scoop normally extending down from the top of the brush at an inclination at the front side, and means for automatically locking the scoop when forced toward the brush.

An attachment for a brush having a handle, comprising a scoop connected therewith, and means for locking the scoop in operative position when the handle is inverted to bring the brush over the scoop.

6. An attachment for a brush having a back and a handle fixed to the back, comprising a scoop adapted to be pivotally connected with the back near the edge thereof, having a rigid arm projecting from the rear thereof over the back of the brush, a rigid member on the back having a slot, a spring connecting said member and arm, a lever pivotally mounted on said arm and extending through said slot, said lever having a notch for engaging the edge of the slot and holding the lever locked in said position, and a second spring connecting the end of the lever with the back of the scoop.

7. An attachment for a brush having a back and a handle fixed to the back at an inclination, comprising a scoop adapted to be pivotally connected with the back near the edge thereof, and normally projecting downwardly at an angle to the brush, said scoop having a rigid arm projecting from the rear thereof over the back of the brush,

the end of the arm being located in position to serve for operating it, a rigid member on the back having a slot therethrough, a springconnecting said member and arm for normally pulling the arm backwardly toward the handle and forcing the scoop outwardly from the brush at the lower edge, a lever pivotally mounted on said arm and extending through said slot, said lever having a notch for engaging. the edge of the slot and holding the lever locked in said position, said lever having an end by which it can be operated and located near said back, and a second spring connecting the opposite end of the lever with the back of the scoop for forcing the edge of the lever in which the notch is located toward the end of said slot.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES H. BANCROFT.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Washington. D- C." 

